Someone needs to tell Donald Trump: "No, you do not have absolute power to pardon yourself"

[kentuck]

If you have plans of pardoning Manafort, or Flynn, or your children, you had better do it now. If any of them are indicted for conspiring with Russia to attack our election system and you, Donald Trump, was aware and supportive of their efforts, then you cannot pardon yourself.

You may think you have absolute power but you do not. You can try and see how it works?

[onenote]

1. Actually, whether he does or doesn't is an unresolved legal issue

Lots of folks have lots of opinions, but no one can cite to any decision that answers the question definitively.

[kentuck]

2. It is so obviously illegal that I could never envision even this Supreme Court agreeing....

... with such a preposterous statement. It is not so much "unresolved" as never so insane as to be tested.

[Volaris]

6. I think I agree. Roberts has way waaaayy to much respect for the Historical Institutionalism of the

Court, to EVER let that fly, AND I'd bet next semesters tuition that if Roberts had his way, it would be a unanimous decision, just for the impact that would carry. The courts seem willing to let a lot slide in deference to Executive Power, but the reciprocity for that seems to be 'Do not, DO NOT fuck with us.' If trump insists, Roberts WILL make an example of him that history will not forgot, I think.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. I guess when the the Justice Department's legal council

told Nixon he couldn't pardon himself, that wasn't definitive. Okay, so it wasn't the Supreme Court, but that strikes me as pretty definitive.

[drray23]

5. It would never fly by the supreme court.

Think about the consequences. It effectively would nullify the constitution and rule of law. Washington dc is not a state so only federal law applies there. This means that Trump could, for example murder an opponent and pardon himself.

He could sell his pardons to whomever needs one and pardon himself for the corrupt act.

He could ignore the results of the 2020 election (if he is still there) and stay in power, pardon himself.

He could let his family and friends not pay any taxes and pardon them when the IRS sues them for tax fraud. Wait, he can already do that last one. I'm surprised it has not happened yet..

[kentuck]

4. Trump made some confusing and contradictory comments at his impromptu press conference....

....before leaving for Canada.

First, he responded to a question about pardons for others, by saying that it was not something he had thought about since they had not been convicted of anything. In other words, there would need to be proof of guilt of a crime before a pardon could be given or received?

He also said that no one was "above the law", whether or not he believed it is another question.

Then he said that he had the "absolute power to pardon himself", although he had done nothing to be pardoned for?

Sounded like screams from a drowning man.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

7. Who will bell the cat?

It certainly won't be a Repug. They're all too busy cowering in the corner,

Someone needs to point out the Emperor has no clothes. Oh, wait, they have: